Lingle Sees Faith As Facet of Identity

Published 8:00 pm, Wednesday, April 23, 2003

She makes time for her scheduler, her cabinet and her closest advisers. But every Monday morning, Gov. Linda Lingle sits down to a meeting unlike any other during the week.

It's with her rabbi.

Lingle's gubernatorial victory last November made her a pioneer in many ways. She is the first Republican to govern Hawaii in 40 years, the first woman ever. And she's the first Jewish governor to lead the islands, only the second female Jewish governor in U.S. history. The first, Madeleine Kunin, was Vermont's governor from 1985 to 1991.

Lingle is hesitant to be labeled only by her religion, but she is quick to say her faith helps define her. Judaism is a facet of Lingle's identity that she said shapes her leadership perhaps more than being a woman or a Republican.

"Anyone who was raised in a Jewish family, I think, would feel the same way," Lingle said.

Lingle's religion was never an issue during her campaign, and it seldom garners any attention now. At her inauguration, a rabbi gave an invocation, but so did a number of Christian leaders.

Lingle attended a public menorah lighting during Hanukkah and last week took part in a Passover Seder at the governor's mansion. On Fridays, a rabbi arrives at Lingle's office with fresh-baked challah bread for Shabbat. And in the entryway to the governor's home, a mezuza has been affixed in the doorway.

"She handles it the way Linda Lingle handles most things," said Neil Milner, a political science professor at the University of Hawaii. "She doesn't make a big thing out of it, she doesn't wear it on her sleeve."

It's a similar public approach to that of the nation's only other sitting Jewish governor _ Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell.

Fewer than 20 Jews have been elected their state's chief executive since David Emanuel won Georgia's race in 1801. Some, like Idaho's Moses Alexander _ who helped establish Idaho's first synagogue after taking office in 1915 _ have particularly bolstered their faith's community.

Lingle has no similar goal for Hawaii's Jews _ who make up fewer than 1 percent of the state's residents. She said raising the profile of her faith is "not something conscious that I'd like to set out to do."

Lingle grew up in St. Louis, where she attended services and Sunday school, saving her dimes to plant trees in Israel. Her family later moved to California, and after college, Lingle moved to Hawaii.

She eventually became a councilwoman, then mayor in Maui County. She narrowly lost a gubernatorial bid in 1998, but when she ran again four years later, backed by the biggest campaign fund in state history, Lingle emerged a winner.

Her victory ended four decades of almost one-party rule in Hawaii by the Democrats, who were plagued by a slow economy, declining state tax revenue, weakened union political clout and a string of corruption scandals.

Lingle promised to improve public education and to restore trust in government. And while she probably could have won without the extra help, she also gained the backing of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee as well as Jews in California, New York and Florida. Even the Jerusalem Post featured her in a story.

"I think she sets the example for so many groups that are underrepresented," said Laura Stein, a lawyer who supported Lingle's candidacy. "She's like three for one."

Lingle's moderate political stance helps in her appeal to a group that typically votes Democratic. She supports abortion rights and opposes capital punishment.

But even Jews who find themselves at odds with the governor's political views say they take some pride in Lingle's rise.

"It demonstrates that Hawaii will continue its tradition of tolerance and inclusiveness," said Democratic state Rep. Brian Schatz. "From that perspective, I think we all were proud."